Jaishankar says US under Trump ‘departed from traditional foreign policy approach’

By Anjali Sharma

WASHINGTON – The External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar said that no US President has conducted foreign policy as publicly as Donald Trump, called it a major departure from the traditional orthodox approach.

He was speaking at The Economic Times World Leaders Forum 2025 Jaishankar said, “We’ve not had a US President who’s conducted foreign policy as publicly as the current one. That itself is a departure that’s not limited to India. President Trump’s way of dealing with the world, even dealing with his own country, is a very major departure from the traditional orthodox manner of doing so.”

Jaishankar also took a jibe at the US and the Europe over the imposition of tariffs on India for purchasing Russian oil, stated nobody has forced anyone to buy oil or refined products from India.

“It’s funny to have people who work for a pro-business American administration accusing other people of doing business. If you have a problem buying oil or refined products from India, don’t buy it. Nobody forces you to buy it. Europe buys, America buys, so you don’t like it, don’t buy it,” he said.

He stated that negotiations between the US and India for a trade deal are still going but farmers and that India has drawn red lines concerning the interests of famers and to some extent small producers.

Trump had imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on India for purchasing Russian Federation oil, accused New Delhi of sponsoring Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The additional 25 per cent tariff will come into effect on August 27.

Jaishankar stated the government is very clear that India will never accept any third party mediation in its relations with Pakistan.

“On the issue of mediating (India-Pak conflict), since 1970s for more than 50 years now, there’s a national consensus in this country that we do not accept mediation in our relations with Pakistan. When it comes to the trade, the interests of farmers, when it comes to our strategic autonomy, when it comes to opposition to mediation, this government is very clear. Our positions are there,” he stated.

He asserted that they (NDA government) will maintain this policy at all costs.

“If anybody disagrees with us, please tell the people of India that you are not prepared to defend the interests of farmers. Please tell the people of India you don’t value strategic autonomy. We do. We will do whatever we have to do to maintain it…,” he added.

His remarks came after a strain in India-US ties over Trump’s ceasefire claim and imposition of 50 per cent tariffs on Indian imports to the US, highest among the country’s major trade partners.